It is Monday. It is my first official day of Summertime.
I'm not going to call it vacation per se because I still have work to do. Although my 2013-2014 school year ended last Friday, as all teachers, I am immediately looking toward next year, mentally going over beginning-of-the year lessons that I'd like to teach, classroom expectations I'd like to foster. I'm analyzing Pinterest and other internet sites looking for the best way to conserve precious classroom space and to hide the inevitable bumps and dings on time-worn classroom furniture.
And of course, I now must also fill my non-teaching time with TEDxKyoto preparations, trying to get as much done now as I can since our main event in September coincides--as it always does--with the start of my school year.
So yes, it is Monday, and while I didn't have to wake up at 5am today, I still woke up at 6, still took out the garbage. Still made coffee and washed stray dishes.
Not long after I woke up, however, something different happened.
Patrick and Aya got up.
They grumbled their way down the stairs, fully dressed and rummaged around the kitchen for food.
Then they packed their bags with water bottles and plastic containers of leftover pizza for lunch.
And they left.
In an odd, delightful reversal of roles, THEY left to go teach, and I stayed home.
About a month ago they were asked if they would be available to be assistants to help out with my school's 2 week summer school program. Aya would work with a teacher with the younger kids, and Patrick would work with another teacher with the older elementary kids.
And they said yes.
So now it feels strange to be sitting at the kitchen table, sipping coffee as Patrick and Aya scurried off to school. Odd pangs of pride, liberation and confusion are dashing through my brain, along with a rather overwhelming sensation that something must have gone terribly wrong here, if they are out teaching and I am staying home.
Yet, the early morning summer sun is streaming through the window and the humidity of another Kyoto day has not yet descended. A cup of warm coffee is at my elbow.
Hmmm, perhaps this is a role reversal that I could get used to. At least for a little while.
